Murder of a Bookstore Babe

As Wally strode over the shop’s threshold, Skye turned her attention to the phone.

A second later, Charlie answered, “Up A Lazy River Motor Court.”

“Hi, Uncle Charlie. It’s Skye. Could you put me through to Orlando Erwin’s cottage?”

“Why do you want to talk to him?” Charlie was nearly as bad as May in wanting to control Skye’s life.

Skye explained, ending with, “Have you seen him around today?”

“Can’t say as I have,” Charlie said, his voice thoughtful. “Not real good business to miss appointments with customers.”

“Maybe he forgot.” Skye kept her tone light. “But I do need to talk to him to reschedule.”

“You going to your ma’s for supper tonight?” Charlie was in no hurry to forward the call.

“Probably not.” Skye resigned herself to a few minutes of chitchat. “You?”

“Sure.” Charlie chuckled. “I never miss one of May’s Sunday dinners if I can help it.”

“They are good,” Skye agreed.

“So you want to talk to that book fellow?”

“Yeah. I’d really like to get rid of these old books.” Skye crossed her fingers. “And I’m in sort of a hurry.”

“Okay. I’ll ring his room now. Take care, honey.”

“Thanks, Uncle Charlie.” Phew. She’d made it past the first hurdle.

“Hello?” A woman’s voice answered on the first ring.

Skye frowned. “May I speak to Orlando Erwin, please? Skye Denison calling.” Had Charlie put her through to the wrong cottage?

“Hello, Skye. He’s not here right now. This is Risé.”

Oh. My. God! Skye stared at her cell as if it had turned into a rattlesnake. If Risé was on the phone, that meant that . . . Oh, no—she’d made the same mistake yesterday, but this time she’d assumed that the tiny brunette was the store owner when it was really Kayla.

“Skye, are you there?” Risé’s tone was brusque. “Why did you want to talk to Orlando? I’m sorry if he missed an appointment or something, but this isn’t a good time. Try him later on at the store.”

“Uh, wait. Don’t hang up.” Skye wasn’t sure what to say, and she knew she had to tell Wally immediately that Risé was not the woman who had been crushed. “I’m sorry to bother you, but there’s an emergency at Tales and Treats. You need to come down here right away.”

“What—”

Skye cut her off. “I’ll explain when you get here.”

“But—”

Flipping the phone closed, Skye cut off Risé again and rushed inside the shop. She heard, “One.” The men had threaded moving straps under and around the cabinet. “Two.” Wally held one end and Anthony held the other. “Three.”

Skye waited to speak while Wally and Anthony heaved the cabinet to an upright position and Simon and Xavier steadied it against the wall.

Once she was sure the cabinet was secure, Skye pointed to the body. “That’s not Risé Vaughn.”

“Then who is it?” Simon asked.

“It’s Kayla!” a voice cried from the doorway. “It’s my Kayla!

CHAPTER 8

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Ms.Hyde

Chase Wren wailed, sounding like a wounded wildebeest, then charged toward Kayla’s body, tears running down his chiseled cheeks.

“Stop.” Simon stepped into his path. “I’m sorry to tell you she’s dead.” He grabbed the distraught young man by his shoulders and attempted to turn him around. “You have to leave immediately.”

Chase shook him off like a bull with a rodeo rider, and when Simon hit the floor, Anthony stepped in front of Chase. The hulking ex–baseball player stumbled but quickly regained his footing.

“Whoa there, son.” Wally got behind Chase, grabbed both his arms, and twisted them up his back. “Let’s all calm down. We can talk outside.”

Chase continued to lunge toward Kayla’s body, struggling to break Wally’s hold. Wally tightened his grip, then shot Skye a meaningful look.

She immediately said in her most soothing tone, “Come on, Chase. I know it’s awful to see Kayla like that, but there’s nothing you can do for her, and she wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.”

Chase went rigid when Skye spoke Kayla’s name. Then he slumped and started to sob. “What am I going to do without her? She was my whole world.”

“I know.” Skye moved closer and patted the young man’s biceps. “Let them finish in here while we go sit outside and talk about it.”

“Okay, Ms. Denison.” He hiccuped. “I can’t stand seeing her like that.”

“That’s right.” Skye took his hand and led him toward the door. “Try to forget, and remember her the way she was the last time you two were together.”

“She was so beautiful. All the guys were jealous of me.” Chase’s blue eyes glazed over in pain. “I was so proud of her.”

Wally had followed them to the exit, and Skye jerked her chin up, signifying that she had everything under control, as she seated the young man at one of the outdoor tables. Wally sketched a question mark in the air, indicating she should interview Chase, then went back inside.

Skye nodded and turned her attention back to the sobbing young man. He gulped a couple of times, took out a large hanky, and blew his nose. She waited, content to let him establish the pace of their conversation.